These issues, authors can open the gates and start a conversation. Like everyone had a bullying story to tell. Not the statistics that up to 1 in 3 children are bullied, or the fact thatīullying is not a crime, it was the stories I heard when people knew what I wasĪrm (at primary school), regular beatings (at a rough country school), sexualĪssault (at a top private school) and more. Two articles (in 2012 andĢ018) were identical apart from the number of punches to the head (20 in oneĪnd 17 in the other) and the location (Adelaide and Perth). I did this in 2010, 2012Īnd 2018 and the results were frighteningly similar. Serious bullying incidents in any six-month period. For a start, a five-minute google-search will uncover two to three I wouldn’t describe the results as cool, but they wereĮye-opening. I read books and articles, checked newspapersĪnd talked to people. Recent book, Otherwise known as Pig, tells the story of bullying, so Was there any particularly cool, interesting or eye-opening research you undertook when writing your most recent book? How did you go about it and what did you learn? Know their story, so they have a place to stand. In an increasingly disturbed world, they need to We need Oz YA so that our next generation will recognise This is despite the fact the book grew out of stories fromĪustralian teens. (adult) commented she ‘couldn’t believe the bullying until she pretended it was When I first wrote Otherwise known as Pig one of my beta readers

On Manus Island are also part of being Australian. Just as theĪppalling racism behind the old White Australia Policy and the new detentions Irreverent humour is unique to our heritage and our writing. The Australian Museum site has a page on drop-bears. I love the laid-back attitude present in ‘She’ll be right, mate,’ and the fact What’s special about Australian stories? Why is it important that young adults read stories set in Australia?

Married with five children and has an MA in creative Presented in a play on bullying that she decided to write Otherwise Known as Pig. It was after hearing studentsĬomment how realistic and empowering they found Morgan and Stormin’s story Catch Tilly is a former high school teacher now

Mallee Boys by Charlie Archbold